Retailer price war sees $40 games, $50 gift card with Wii

While the ludicrously deep discounts of last week's Black Friday sales may be gone, some of the nation's biggest retailers are still using deals to lure in gamers and thwart each other. As reported by Reuters, Wal-Mart is starting a promotional push for its gaming business, and Amazon is pushing back.

After the Black Friday frenzy subsided, Wal-Mart cut the prices on a number of the season's top titles by $10, offering Xbox 360 and PS3 games like Uncharted 2, Halo 3: ODST, Dragon Age (PS3 only), Tekken 6 (Xbox 360 only), Left 4 Dead 2, and Madden NFL 10 for $50 even. Wii owners weren't left out, as Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games and The Beatles: Rock Band are selling for $40 each. Reuters reports that the sale prices will run through December 24.

In many cases, Amazon followed suit by dropping its own prices in line with the Wal-Mart deals, although certain deals (Uncharted 2, The Beatles: Rock Band) were not matched. Reuters reported that Target was also responding to the drops, but as of press time, its site didn't reflect any of the aforementioned deals. Instead, Target is offering FIFA Soccer 10 (Xbox 360 and PS3) and Dragon Age (Xbox 360) for $39.

Finally, for those in the market for new hardware, Reuters also reported that Wal-Mart will run a deal on the Wii next week. Customers who purchase Nintendo's $199 console from the retailer's brick-and-mortar locations from December 5-12 will also receive a $50 gift card.

[UPDATE]: With its rivals cutting prices left and right, GameStop shares took a beating Wednesday, dropping more than 8 percent to end the day down $1.97 to $21.87. The specialty retailer is fighting back, as it is listing Halo 3: ODST, Forza Motorsport 3, Left 4 Dead 2 (360), with $39.99 price points. The PC edition of Left 4 Dead 2 is also seeing a cut, selling for $29.99.